Rutgers Falls at Home to Temple in Overtime, 10-9
Apr 16 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's lacrosse team closed out its non-conference schedule with a 10-9 overtime loss to Temple, Wednesday night at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights (7-8) had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds of overtime, but shots from Nina Frankoski (Maplewood, N.J.) and Michelle Poole (Long Valley, N.J.) were off-target, and Temple (10-4) picked up the win.
RU saw itself trailing early as the Owls scored the first three goals of the game. After a timeout from head coach Laura Brand, the Scarlet Knights regrouped and scored two consecutive goals, the first from Brooke Cantwell (Moorestown, N.J.) and the second by Meghan Flanagan (Medford, N.J.).Sophomore Mary Cryan (Newtown Square, Pa.) assisted both goals, bringing RU to within one. But Temple tallied three of the next four goals, the lone RU score coming from freshman Marley Welsh (Jarretsville, Md.), to take a 6-3 half-time lead.
After the Owls scored the first goal of the second stanza, RU found its shooting touch, tallying four consecutive goals to tie the game at seven. After a score from Cantwell, Flanagan assisted on two consecutive goals, first from freshman Kristen Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.) and the second from Poole. Freshman Jennifer Schmitt (Perry Hall, Md.) scored unassisted to tie the game.
Temple's Berkley Summerlin recorded her 26th goal of the season to give the edge back to the Owls, but Schmitt and Cantwell each tallied to give RU its first lead of the game, at 9-8. But Summerlin again found the back of the net with 4:37 to play, sending the game into overtime tied at nine. Goalie Sandra Abel (Monrovia, Md.) stopped two shots in the closing seconds of regulation to preserve the tie.
In the first extra session, Temple got possession and held the ball until Brittany Hoffman took a shot with 56 seconds to play, but Abel was up to the task. RU had a chance to take the lead in the closing seconds, but Poole's shot was saved by TU goalie Bridget McMullen. In the next period, Temple controlled the draw control and Whitney Richards, held in check for most of the game by RU's defense, scored her 37th goal of the season on a free-position shot with 1:09 to go.
Cantwell led the team with three goals, as well as six draw controls and four ground balls. Flanagan and Cryan each had a team-high two assists. Abel played the entire game and stopped 10 shots, the 10th time this season she has posted double-digit saves.
The Scarlet Knights close out their season with a BIG EAST conference matchup against No. 8 Notre Dame, Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Before the game, Rutgers will honor senior Jessica Fox (Marlton, N.J.) with a special Senior Day ceremony.
